Dr Pepper, based in Plano, Texas, makes Mott's juices, 7Up, Sunkist and Canada Dry in addition to its namesake drinks. Productivity improvements and a lower charge on inventory helped lift net income 4 percent, despite higher costs for ingredients such as apples.

Sales volume declined 2 percent, reflecting the broader beverage industry's struggles to grow in developed markets where people are shying away from sugary drinks. Unlike its much bigger rivals Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc., Dr Pepper relies far more heavily on North America for sales.

Given the sluggish growth in the U.S., the three companies have all been trying to slash costs and streamline production to improve profitability.

For the quarter, Dr Pepper said volume for its namesake soda fell 3 percent, reflecting declines in the core brand as well as Dr Pepper Ten, a newer diet soda that's marketed to men and has just 10 calories. The company has since introduced 10-calorie versions for its other sodas, including RC Cola, 7Up and Sunkist.